Draft roll cleaning and burnishing apparatus



March 18, 1958 KELLY ET AL 2,826,773

7 7 DRAFT ROLL CLEANING AND BURNISHING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 28, 1955 4 SheetsSheet 1 no 1' N INVENTORS RALPH KELLY i WlLLlAM Rain flT-TORNEY Mara. 18, 1958 R.

KELLY ETAL 2,826,773

DRAFT ROLL CLEANING AND BURNISHING APPARATUS- Filed Oct. 28, 1955 IO N 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 RALPH KELLY By S W\LLIAM REID March 18, 1958 KEL ErAL 2,826,773 f DRAFT ROLL CLEANING AND' BURNISHING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 28, 19 55 4 Shee-ts-Sheec' 3 INVENTOR5 RALPH KELLY By ii WILLI M REID ATTOR/VE Y March 18, 1958 Filed Oct. 28, 1955 R. KELLY ETAL DRAFT ROLL CLEANING AND BURNISHING APPARATU 4 Sheds-Sheet 4 INVENTORS RALPH KELLY i WILLIAM REID H TTO ENE Y DRAFT ROLL CLEANING AND BURNISHING APPARATUS Ralph Kelly and William Reid, Greenwood, S. C. Application October 28, 1955, Serial No. 543,405

2 Claims. (CI. 15-21) This invention relates to a machine for cleaning and burnishing the knurled draft rolls of textile roving and spinning machines.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a machine which will effectively and rapidly clean and polish a large number of the draft rolls and free the same of lint and other foreign matter.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character which is substantially automatic in operation and adapted to clean the entire surface of each draft roll passing through the machine without damaging the roll in any way.

A further object is to provide in such a machine means for subjecting the corrugated or knurled portions of the draft rolls to a vigorous brushing action as they pass through the machine, for effectively cleaning and burnishing the entire circumference of the rolls.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for cleaning and polishing draft rolls of spinning machines, which is adjustable to regulate the pressure of the burnishing brushes upon the rolls and to accommodate draft rollsof various lengths.

Another object is to provide novel and simplified means for passing a plurality of draft rolls to be cleaned through the machine in properly spaced relation and causing the draft rolls to pass beneath a series of rotating brushes for thoroughly cleaning and polishing them about their entire circumferences.

A further object is to provide in a machine of the above-mentioned character novel and simplified suction means for cleaning the reduced ends or journals of the draft rolls prior to brushing andburnishing their knurled portions.

A further object is to provide a machine for the specified purpose which is simplified and compact in construction, rugged and durable, and easy to maintain and operate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which'like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a draft roll cleaning and burnishing machine in accordance with the present i ven n,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure 2, parts broken away, Figure 4 is an end elevation of the machine illustrated by Figure 1 Figure '5 is a further end elevation of the opposite end of the machine,

Figure 6 is a central transverse .vertical section taken online166 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is an'enlarged fragmentary plan view of the intake end of the machine, parts omitted,

' Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken sub: stantially on line 8 8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8, parts in elevation,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line Ill-19 of Figure 9, and,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 1111 of Figure 7.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates generally a supporting frame or table, constructed of heavy angle bars, or the like, so as to be strong and rigid. The frame 20 is rectangular and elongated, as shown, and comprises corner vertical legs 21, upper parallel longitudinal side rails .22 and end transverse horizontal bars or rails 23, as indicated. The rails 22 and 23 preferably have their ends rigidly secured together by welding or the like, and the rails 22 and 23 are rigidly secured to the tops of the legs 21, as by welding. Near and above the bottoms of the legs 21, a suitable horizontal platform 24 is rigidly secured thereto by any suitable means for supporting mechanism to be described.

Arranged at an elevation above the frame sides or rails 22 and spaced inwardly thereof for a considerable distance, is a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal bars 25, which extend throughout the entire length of the frame or table 20 in vertically spaced relation thereto. At their opposite ends, the bars 22 have secured to their bottom sides by welding or the like, vertical screw-threaded sleeves 26, and these sleeves are arranged directly over the transverse end rails 23, Figure ll. Vertical adjusting screws 27 engage through the screw-threaded sleeves 26 and have their lower ends forming .swivelled connections with the rails 23 as shown at 28, Figure 11. The adjusting screws 27 are provided at their tops and above the bars 25 with suitable hand wheels 29. The horizontal longitudinal bars 25 are thus bodily carried by the adjusting screws 27, which is turn are secured to the transverse rails 23 of the frame 2!). The bars 25 are adjustable vertically with respect to the frame 26 by turning of the adjusting screws 27 within the screw-threaded sleeves 26.

Bodily mounted upon the vertically adjustable longitudinal bars 25' are longitudinally equidistantly spaced pairs of laterally spaced rotary wire brushes 30. Each pair of brushes 36 is arranged between the spaced longitudinal bars 25 for rotation in vertical planes upon a horizontal transverse axis. Each brush 30 is cylindrical in form with its sides or ends arranged vertically, as shown. The brushes 30 of each pair are spaced apart equidistantly from opposite sides of the longitudinal center line between the bars 25, Figure 2.

Each pair of rotary brushes 30 is rigidly secured to a horizontal transverse shaft 31 for rotation therewith, and the shafts 31 extend at right angles to the bars 25 at an elevation somewhat above the same. The ends of the shafts 31 are journaled in suitable bearings 32, fixedly mounted upon the tops of the bars 25, as shown. The sets or pairs of rotary brushes 30 are thus bodily mounted upon the vertically adjustable longitudinal bars 25.

Corresponding ends of the shafts 31 are provided with sprocket wheels 33, rigidly secured thereto, and these sprocket wheels are disposed outwardly of the adjacent bar 25 and somewhat above the same. Companion sprocket wheels 34 are arranged midway between alternate pairs of the sprocket wheels 33 and journaled in bearings 35, fixedly mounted upon the adjacent longitudinal bar 25, between alternate pairs of the bearings 32 at one side of the machine. The sprocket wheels 34 lie in a common vertical plane with the sprocket wheels 33 but are arranged at a lower elevation than the sprocket wheels 33, Figure 1.

The first pair of brushes 30 toward theforward or intake end of the machine is spaced somewhat inwardly or 3 rearwardly of such intake end as shown in Figures 2 and 3, whereas the last pair of brushes near the discharge end of the machine is spaced closer to the discharge end. The

several pairs of brushes are in relatively closely spaced 38 at the same side of the machine as the sprocket wheels 33 and 34 and in the same vertical plane as these other sprocket wheels. The sprocket wheel 38 is preferably at the elevation of the sprocket wheels 33. The sprocket wheels 33, 34 and 38 are preferably all of the same diameter, as shown.

An endless sprocket chain 39, Figure 1, is trained over the sprocket wheels 33 and 38 and under all of the sprockct wheels 34, as shown in Figure l. The sprocket chain 39 is spaced outside of the adjacent longitudinal bar 25 and between such bar and the adjacent side rail 22 of the frame 20. The sprocket chain 39 has its lower side extended downwardly in a vertical plane for engagement beneath a sprocket wheel 40, fixedly secured to a hori: zontal transverse rotatable shaft 41, arranged near and above the platform 24,at the longitudinal center of the machine. The shaft 41 has its ends journaled in bearings 42, fixedly secured to the sides of upright brackets 43, in turn rigidly mounted upon the platform 24.

Just inwardly of the longitudinal bars 25 and somewhat below the same is a pair of horizontal parallel longitudinal endless flexible conveyor elements or chains 44 having upper and lower horizontal runs 45 and 46, arranged slightly above and below the side rails 22, respectively, Figure l. The chains 44 extend for substan tially the entire length of the machine and throughout that portion of the length occupied by the pairs of brushes 30. The chains 44 engage about pairs of sprocket Wheels 47 near the opposite ends of the side rails 22, which sprocket wheels are, secured to horizontal transverse shafts 48, having their ends journaled within bearings 49, fixedly secured to the bottoms of the longitudinal rails 22, Figures 6 and 9. Chains 44 are preferably taut, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each chain 44 carries a multiplicity of equidistantly spaced upstanding lugs or conveyor elements 50, rigidly secured thereto,,fr a purpose to be described, and these lugs project a short distance vertically above the upper runs 45 of the chains 44, as shown.

The shaft 48 nearest the discharge end of the machine has a sprocket wheel 51 secured thereto for rotation therewith, outwardly of the adjacent bar 25. A companion sprocket wheel 52, preferably the same diameter as the sprocket wheel 51, is spaced forwardly thereof at the same elevation as the sprocket wheel 51, and mounted for rotation upon a horizontal transverse shaft 53,

which has its ends journaled in bearings 54, fixedly secured to the bottoms of the side rails 22. The sprocket wheel 52 isdisposed just outwardly of the adjacent longitudinal bar 25, as shown. The sprocket wheels 51 and 52 are operatively connected by a horizontal endless sprocket chain 55, as shown.

Also mounted upon the shaft 53 for rotation therewith, just outwardly of the, sprocket wheel 52 is an additional sprocket wheel 56, operatively connected through a generally vertical sprocket chain 57 with a sprocket wheel 58, carried by a transverse horizontal drive shaft 59 of a suitable gear speed reducer 60, or the like. The speed reducer 60 is rigidly mounted upon the platform 24, near and forwardly of the discharge end of the machine. The gear speed reducer 60 and its shaft 59 is driven by a suitable electric motor 61 which may form an integral part of the unit 60. -The drive shaft 59 also carries a sprocket wheel 62 just inwardly of the sprocket wheel 58, and the sprocket wheel 62 is operatively connected with a sprocket wheel 63 on the shaft 41, by means of a horizontal endless sprocket chain 63, Figures 1 and 6.

The sprocket wheel 62 is substantially larger than the sprocket wheel 63, in order to effect the desired gear ratio, and the sprocket wheel 56 is likewise somewhat larger than the sprocket wheel 58, as indicated.

It may now be seen that the power unit comprising the motor 61 and gear speed reducer 60 is utilized to drive the chains 44 and the sets of rotary brushes 30 in unison, and at the desired speeds. Generally speaking, the arrangement is such.that the brushes 30 rotate at a relatively high constant rate, whereas the conveyor chains 44 travel at relatively slow rates for passing the draft rolls beneath the sets of brushes during the operation of the machine.

In order to convey the draftrolls 64 beneath the pairs of brushes 30, in cooperation with the conveyor chains 44, there is provided a horizontal longitudinal apron or track 65, upon which the individual draft rolls 64 roll or travel. The apron 65 is flat, as shown, and extends for the entire length of the frame 20 beneath the pairs of rotary brushes 30, at the transverse center of the machine. The apron 65 has one end thereof resting upon and rigidly secured to one transverse rail 23, at the rear or discharge end of the machine. The opposite or forward end of the apron 65 is upwardly inclined at 66, forwardly of the other transverse rail 23, Figure 3. This end of the apron 65 rests upon and is rigidly secured to a beveled block 67, in turn rigidly mounted upon the adjacent transverse rail 23. The apron 65 is thus bodily mounted upon the transverse rails 23 and extends for the entire length of the frame 20. The apron is rigid so that it will not bend, and it is arranged horizontally at the top of the frame 20, and thus somewhat below the longitudinal bars 25 and the rotary brushes 30. The apron 65 is preferably fixed or immovable with respect to the frame 20. If desired, the apron 65 may be further supported near its longitudinal center by a pair of transversely inwardly extending horizontal arms 68, rigidly secured to the side rails 22 near their longitudinal centers, and underlying the opposite sides of the apron.

The apron is of such. a width that the upper runs 45 of the chains 44 slidably contact and rest upon the outer sides of the apron during their horizontal movement toward the rear or discharge end of the machine. The upper runs 45 are thus prevented from sagging during their longitudinal movement, Figure 7. The longitudinal side edges 69 of the apron 65 are preferablyspaced a slight distance outwardly of the chains 44, as best shown in Figure 7, and these edges may be directly below the longitudinal bars 25.

Near its forward and rear ends, the apron 65 is reduced in width as at 70 to accommodate the pairs of sprocket wheels 47, Figure 2. Otherwise, the apron is of the full width defined by its side edges 69 throughout its) entire length, and below the several pairs of brushes 3 Rigidly mounted upon the apron 65 at its transverse center, asby welding, is an elevated straight longitudinal track or guide member 71, extending continuously for the entire length of the apron and serving a purpose to be described. A companion hold-down longitudinal track or guide member 72 is spaced above the track 71 throughout the entire length of the same. The hold-down track 72 has its forward end portion upwardly inclined at 73, parallel to the inclined portion 66 at the intake end of the apron 65. This end of the hold-down track 72 is rigidly secured to and suspended from a bracket or strap 74, which may surround the inclined portion 66 of the apron and be n'gidly secured thereto, by welding or the like. The rear end of the hold-down track 72 is similarly suspended from a bolt 75 .or the like, to which it is welded, and this bolt isdependingly rigidly secured to a bracket 76, in turn rigidly connected with the adjacent transverse rail 23 as by legs 77. The holddown track 72 is spaced above the track 71 a uniform distance throughout the entire length of the apron 65. The holddown rail or track 72 need not be further supported intermediate its ends, as it simply serves to hold down or prevent upward movement of the draft rolls 64 passing over the apron 65. If the track 72 should tend to sag somewhat, it will merely contact thedraft rolls 64 passing over the apron and be supported thereby, without interfering with the passage of the draft rolls through the machine. In any event, the hold-down track 72 can be made stiff enough so that it will not tend to bend or sag appreciably. It can now be seen that the track elements 71 and 72 are disposed at the transverse center of the flat apron 65, and between the several pairs of rotary brushes 30. The apron 65 extends somewhat outwardly of the opposite sides of the pairs of brushes, as best shown by Figures 6 and 7. The bottoms of the brushes are spaced above the top of the apron, as shown in Figure 8, so that the draft rolls 64 rolling along the apron can pass under the brushes to be cleaned and burnished thereby.

Means are provided to adjust the pairs of sprocket wheels 47 and the conveyor chains 44 laterally inwardly and outwardly in order to accommodate draft rolls of somewhat different lengths. This means is best shown by Figure 9, and comprises a pair of adjusting screw shafts 78, arranged at opposite ends of the frame 20, directly below the transverserails 23 and having their ends journaled in bearings 79, fixedly secured to the bottoms of the rails 23. The screw shafts 78 are thus horizontal, and extend transversely of the chains 44 and parallel to the shafts 48 at the same elevations as the shafts 48. The screw shafts 78 are arranged somewhat forwardly and rearwardly of the forward and rear shafts 48, respectively.

Each screw shaft 78 is right and left hand screwthreaded at 80 and 81, Figure 9, for screw-threaded engagement with a pair of laterally shiftable screw-threaded sleeves 82, carrying horizontal arms 83 which are directed toward the shafts 48. Each arm 83 has its inner end bifurcated as at 84, Figure 10. The bifurcations 84 of the arms 83 engage through grooves formed in the hubs 85 of the sprocket wheels 47, Figures 9 and 10, which hubs and sprocket wheels are shiftable longitudinally of the rotary shaft 48, although keyed thereto for rotation by means of a suitable key and keyway 86. Each screwshaft 78 is provided at one end with a' hand wheel 87 for turning it, whereby the right and left hand screw threads 89 and 81 may cause lateral shifting of the sleeves 82 and arms 83 either inwardly or outwardly. This effects the desired lateral adjustment of the chains 44 so that these chains may properly engage the draft rolls 64 of varying lengths. The sprocket wheels 47 always remain keyed to the rotary shafts 48 so that they will turn therewith, regardless of the selected lateral adjusted positions of the chains 44.

Means are also provided to clean the ends or journals 88 of the draft rolls 64 prior to the cleaning and burnishing of their enlarged knurled portions 89. This means comprises an upright suction cleaner 90 having a vertically disposed tubular nozzle or mouth 91 into which each journal 88 of the draft roll may be successively inserted for cleaning lint and the like from the journal by suction. The suction cleaner 90 is bodily mounted upon a vertically inclined strap or bracket 92, suitably rigidly secured to the frame at the forward end of the machine. The cleaner 90 is preferably arranged near one side of the inclined apron portion 66, as shown in Figure 2. I The suction cleaner 90 is suitably connected with a suction pipe 93, leading to and connected with a suction pump 94 or the like, rigidly mounted upon the platform 24 near the forward end of the same. The suction pump 94 has a driven shaft 95, carrying a small sprocket wheel 6 I 96, operatively connected with a larger sprocket wheel 97, in turn secured to'the shaft 41 for rotation therewith, when such shaft is driven by the motor 61 and associated elements.

The sprocket wheels 96 and 97 are operatively connected by a horizontal endless sprocket chain 98, as indicated in Figure 1. Hence the suction cleaner is operated simultaneously with the brushes 30 and conveyor chains 44 when the motor 61 and speed reducer 60 are in operation.

The general operation of the machine is as follows:

The power unit 60-61 drives the top run of each chain 44 to the right, while simultaneously driving the several sets of brushes 30 clockwise, as indicated by the arrows in Figure l. The suction cleaner 90 is also caused to operate simultaneously with the brushes and conveyor chains 44. The operator first inserts both journals 88 of each draft roll 64 Within the mouth 91 of the suction cleaner to remove the lint from the journals. The draft rolls are then placed upon the inclined portion .66 of apron 65 with the reduced central portion 99 of each draft roll engaging over the track member 71 and under the hold down track 72, as best shown in Figure 6. The rolls 64 are now allowed to pass successively onto the horizontal portion of the apron 65 and are guided by the tracks 71 and 72, which maintain the draft rolls substantially at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the apron.

As soon as each draft roll 64 reaches the horizontal apron 65, adjacent the shaft 48, one of the lugs 50 on each chain 44 Will engage the journals 88 at the end of the draft roll and begin to convey the draft roll lengthwise of the apron 65. The top runs of the chains 44 are spaced outwardly of the brushes 30, as shown, and slide over the outer side portions of the apron, as clearly shown in Figure 7. The journals 88 of each roll 64 lie slightly above the top runs 45 of the chains 44, so that they may be engaged at their rear sides by one pair of the lugs 50 which are in lateral alignment. The enlarged knurled portions 89 of each draft roll roll upon the apron 65, on opposite sides of the track 71 andinwardly of the chains 44, Figure 7.

As the draft rolls 64 are thus advanced successively along the apron 65, they will engage and pass under the several pairs of rotating brushes 30, and the knurled portions 89, which are of the same width as the brushes will be subjected to a vigorous brushing or cleaning and burnishing action by the wire brushes 3%). This will remove all lint and foreign matter from the draft rolls, and also polish or burnish the knurled portions 89 thoroughly. Since the brushes 30 rotate clockwise, Figure 1, they will react against the force of the lugs 59 on the draft rolls and thereby tend to turn each draft roll counterclockwise or opposite to the direction in which it is rolling upon the apron 65. This action will cause a portion of the periphery of each draft roll section 89 to be thoroughly cleaned and polished at each pair of the brushes 320. By the time that the draft rolls have passed beneath all of the pairs of brushes 3!), the peripheries of their parts 89 Will be thoroughly and completely cleaned and polished.

When the draft rolls 64 have passed under the last pair of brushes 3!), they will be conveyed by the chains 44 to the right hand or discharge end of the apron 65, Figure 1, where they may be discharged from the machine and collected, as desired.

If desired, means, not shown, may be provided to direct an air blast on the central reduced portions 99 of the draft rolls to clear these portions of lint. This operation may be performed immediately after cleaning of the journals 88 by the suction cleaner 90, or at any other desired time. -When the draft rolls are thus treated by the machine, they will be completely cleaned over their entire surfaces when they pass from the machine.

The height of the several sets of brushes 30 above the apron 65 may be adjusted by means of the hand wheels 29 and associated elements, in orderto cause the brushes to exert the desired pressure upon the draft rolls, or to accommodate draft rolls of different diameters. the brushes 30, their bearings 32 andthe longitudinal bars 25 are thus bodily adjustable vertically by the means including the screws 27 and hand wheels 29.

Likewise, in order to accommodate draft rolls of different lengths, the chains 44 are bodily adjustable laterally of the apron 65,"by the means shown in Figure 9, including screw shafts 78 and associated parts. This adjustment enables the lugs 50 to properly engage the journals 88 of various lengths of draft rolls.

We also contemplate providing a suitable cover or hood, not shown, for the upper portion of the machine which will enclose the brushes 30 and associated elements,

during the operation of the machine. This will prevent,

lint and other foreign matter from being blown above the machine during its operation. The hood may be omitted if desired, and it hasnot been illustrated in the drawings, for the purpose of simplification.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning draft rolls having longitudinally spaced cylindrical body portions and an intermediate reduced spindle connecting the ends of the body portions and outer end spindles, said apparatus comprising,

a support, a generally horizontal table top mounted upon the support, the table top supporting, the body portions of the draft rolls which are rotatably mounted thereon to move longitudinally of the table top, a track element mounted above the table top near its transverse center and extending longitudinally thereof, said track element extending into the space between the inner ends of the body portions of the draft rolls and serving to guide them during their longitudinal rolling action upon the table top, longitudinally spaced pairs of brushes arranged above the table top and mounted upon the support, the brushes in each pair being spaced and arranged upon opposite sides of the guide trackand disposed to engage with the body portions of the draft rolls, endless elements arranged near the longitudinal edges of the table top and disposed upon opposite sides of the longitudinal guide track and in- All of eluding upper runs resting upon the table top, spaced shifting elements carried by the endless elements and arranged in an upstanding position and projecting above the upper runs of the endless elements and movable into 8 contact with the end spindles of the draft rolls to slidably engage therewith and to shift the draft rolls longitudinally of the table top while permitting. of therolling action of the draft rolls upon the table top, and means to rotate the pairs of brushes so that their lower portionsrotate in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the draft rolls to increase the cleaning action of the brushes upon the body portions of the draft rolls.

2. Apparatus for cleaning draft rolls having longitudinally spacedncylindrical body portions and an intermediate reduced spindle connecting the ends of the body portions and outer end spindles, said apparatus comprising a support, a generally horizontal table top mounted upon the support, the table top supporting the body portions of the draft rolls whichare rotatably mounted thereon to move longitudinally of the table top, a lower, track element mounted above the table top near its transverse center and extending longitudinally thereof, said lower track element extending into the spaces between the inner ends of the body portions of the draft rolls and serving to guide the draft rolls during their longitudinal rolling action upon the table top, an upper hold down track element mounted above the lower track element and extending longitudinally of the lower track element and arranged to engage with the intermediate reduced spindles, longitudinally spaced pairs of brushes arranged above the table top and mounted upon the support, the brushes in each pair being spaced and arranged upon opposite sides of the lower guide track and disposed to engage with the body portions of the rolls, endless elements mounted upon the support upon opposite sides of the lower track element and arranged near the outer end spindles, spaced shifting elements carried by the, endless elements and movable into contact with the end spindles of the draftrolls to slidably engage therewith and to shift the draft rolls longitudinally of the, table top while permitting of the rolling action of the draft rolls upon the table top, means to rotate the pairs of brushes, the draft rolls being ro tated independently of the rotation of the brushes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 89,313 Holmes Apr. 27, 1869 1,412,719 Stutts Apr. 11, 1922 1,687,201 Hagen Oct. 9, 1928 2,378,948 Paxton et al. June 26, 1945 2,636,200 Peterson Apr. 28, 1953 2,721,654 Thompson et al. Oct. 25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 118,556 Australia May 26, 1944 128,568 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1920 

